Method of killing nematodes using certain halomethyl oxathienes

ABSTRACT

Halomethyl oxathiene derivatives of the general formula:   IN WHICH X represents a halogen atom, R a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical which may have one or more heteroatoms and R&#39;&#39; a hydrogen atom or a radical having the same definition as R are effective nematocides and fungicides.

United. States Patent [191 Esclamadon 1451 Feb. 25, 1975 METHOD OF KILLING NEMATODES USING CERTAIN I-IALOMETHYL OXATI-IIENES [75] Inventor: Christian Esclamadon, Billere,

France [73] Assignee: Societe Nationale des Petroles dAquitaine, Courbevoie, France [22] Filed: Sept. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 290,869

Related US. Application Data [30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 21, 1968 France 68.152542 [52] US. Cl. 424/276 [51] Int. Cl A01n 9/12 [58] Field of Search 424/276; 260/327 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,005 5/1950 Ballard et a1. 260/327 P 3,082,214 3/1963 Bluestone 260/327 3,728,357 4/1973 Knight et a1 260/327 P FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,578.066 8/1969 France 1,957,859 5/1971 Germany OTHER PUBLlCATlONS Chemical Abstracts 63: 1 3245a (1965 Primary ExaminerStanley .1 Friedman Assistant Examiner-Leonard Schenkman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen [57] ABSTRACT Halomethyl oxathiene derivatives of the general formula:

in which X represents a halogen atom, R a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical which may have one or more heteroatoms and R a hydrogen atom or a radical having the same definition as R are effective nematocides and fungicides.

4 Claims, N0 Drawings METHOD OF KILLING NEMATODES USING CERTAIN HALOMETHYL OXATHIENES This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 172,287 filed Aug. 16, 1971, which is a streamline continuation of application Ser. No. 825,937 filed May 17, 1969, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a new series of halogen compounds derived from 1,4-oxathia-2-ene, which is a hexagonal heterocyclic compound having one atom of oxygen, one atom of sulfur and possessing one unsaturated carbon-to-carbon double bond. The new compounds are effective nematocides and fungicides.

The compounds according to the invention can be represented by the following general formula:

S in which R represents a hydrocarbon radical which may possibly have one or more heteroatoms, R represents hydrogen or a radical of the same nature as R and X represents a halogen atom, preferably chlorine or bromine.

The radicals R and R may be saturated and connected to one another so as to form a cyclic ring together with the carbon atoms of the oxathiene heterocyclic ring to which they are attached.

The hydrocarbon radicals represented by R or R may have up to 12 carbon atoms and can be alkyl radicals such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, hexyl or octyl radicals, for example, alkenyl radicals such as allyl, butenyl or hexenyl radicals, for example, substituted or unsubstituted aryl radicals such as phenyl, chlorophenyl, dichlorophenyl or trimethylphenyl radicals, for example, or cycloalkyl radicals such as the cyclohexyl radical.

When the radicals R and R are connected to one another, the cyclic ring formed with the carbon atoms of the oxathiene heterocyclic ring can have up to 12 carbon atoms in the nucleus, the said nucleus preferably consisting entirely of carbon.

The new compounds are prepared by reacting 3- hydroxy-thietane (3-hydroxy-thiacyclobutane or 3- hydroxytrimethylene sulfide) with a halogenated ketone of the general formula:

R-C-CHX- R -c ll RI in which R, R and X have the meanings given above, and dehydrating the product of the raction.

In a preferred mode of operating the process, the dchydration is effected by heating the reaction product to a temperature higher than 100C, the water released being eliminated.

With regard to the ketones, there can be used with advantage, chloro or bromo-propanonc, l-chloro orl-bromo-Z-butanone, 3'chloro or 3-bromo-2- butanone, l-chloro or l-bromo-Z-pcntanone, 3-chloro or 3-bromo-2-pentanone, 2-chloro or 2-bromo-3- pentanone or 2-chloro-cyclohexanone, this list not being limitative.

The temperature at which the raction between the 3-hydroxy-thietane and the halogenated ketone is carried out varies according to the nature of the ketone. In general, it is between 40 and C.

The halogenated ketone which is used,

is activated by the C=O unsaturation of the carbon atom which is in the alpha-position relative to the carbon atom which carries the halogen; the reaction takes place very easily, generally without a catalyst. However, in order to increase the speed of the reaction, it is advantageous to use an aliphatic amine, preferably a tertiary amine.

The reaction will, take place without a solvent but a polar solvent can be used, for example, tetrahydro furan.

Very good results are obtained by direct heating of 3-hydroxy-thietane with the selected halogenated ketone, it being possible for the latter to be in slight excess relative to the stoichiometric proportion corresponding to the equations given hereinafter.

The product obtained at the end of the reaction is a sulfuretted halohydrin. During the heating of this compound at a temperature of at least C., enolization of the ketone group and dehydration take place. The corresponding 1,4-oxathiene cyclic derivative is ob tained.

Without prejudice to the way in which the reaction does take place, one can illustrate the method of preparation according to the invention by the following equations:

+ a? CIl n-c-c-s-cn -cn-cn x II I I s o R' on enoli zation -C Cll The halomethyl oxathienes of the present invention EXAMPLE 2 are effective nematicides and fungicides. The com- In a 500 cc reaction vessel one mixes I06 g pounds can be applied alone directly to the area to be mole) of 3 chloro z bumnone 90 g (1 mol) of treated or the aforesaid compounds may be formulated hydroxythietane. This mixture is raised to a tempera as an emulsifiable concentrate or as a dilute spray. The 5 mm of with Stirring; drops of tributylamine Q P may also be granules are added as a catalyst and the operating conditions are plicat1on with a conventional fertilizer spreader, 11'] the maintained for 20 hours. wetiablepowderfor apphcat-lon as a dust for The mixture is then distilled under reduced pressure application with a conventional duster, or absorbed on and 72 of 2 3 dimeth l 6 chlorometh H 4 oXathia 2 activated carbon for application on seeds. 10 is gbtained y y The n.ematl?ldal and fungclclal compoupds of h This compound has the following characteristics: present invention are employed in an effective nemati- Boilin int 75 C nder 0 35 film H cidal or fungicidal amount. Since the compounds are g: index n 1 6 g effective even when employed in dilute concentration,

e.g., in concentrations of up to 5% or even higher, it is therefore preferred to incorporate the compounds into C H S Cl a variety of suitable SOllCl or liquid carriers or diluents.

Its elementary analysis is:

Such compositions can be prepared in either the form Found 46-85 18-10 18-15 of a suspension in a suitable nonsolvent or as a dust. A Calculated 1989 suspension or dispersion of the compound in a non- 20 solvent such as water may be prepared for direct appli- This corresponds to the following structure: cation to infested soil. Alternatively, a prepared suspension of the compound can be modified by the addi- 0 tion thereto of small amounts, usually from about 1 to 5 parts, of a commercially available dispersing or sur- 5 CH3-C CH- CHZCI face active agent per 100 parts of the compounds. Ex- CH CH amples of surface active compounds which can be used 3 2 include the sodium salts of polymerized propyl naphs thalene sulfonic acid, an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol MA and a modified phthalic glycerol alkyd resin.

In the preparation of dust, the compound can be EXAMPLE 3 V 7 gm 7 mixed with a finely divided inert granular material as a 5 carrier in any conventional manner. Useful carriers in- The Operation is carried out as in the preceding clude kaolin, bentonite, talc, pumice, silica, chalk, ample but the halogenated ketone is 2 chlor0 wood flour, fullers earth, activated carbon, charcoal, 3 cyclohexanone and tetrahydrofuran is added as a i h i li E 1 f h f h '11 Vent e o owm xam es are set ort to urt err us- H trate the inven ion bui are not intended to limit it. The following quanmles are used EXAMPLE 1 4O 2-Ch1oro-cyc1ohexanone 132.5 g (1 mole) In a 500 cc reaction vessel, one mixes 110 g (1.2 3-HydrOXy-thiemne 90 g( mole) mole) of chloro-propanone and 90 g (1 mole) of 3- :8 {a hydroxy-thietane. While stirring continuously, the mixture is heated for 24 hours at a temperature of 80C. After heating for 24 hours with the Solvent being The temperature is raised to enable the excess fluxed and with stirring, the reaction mixture is dischloro'pmpanone to dlsml tilled: 31 g of product are obtained. This is 2- The temperature in excess of 100 C. is maintained hl and the product of the reaction distills. Water is elimic oromethyl teirahydm n? 1 oxathlalle nated and 2-methyl-6-chloromethyl-l,4-oxathia-2-ene CH 0 is obtained with a yield of 50 Z This compound has the following characteristics: 2 2

Boiling point 88 C. under 0.6 mm Hg. 1

Refractive index n 1.5342 CH C CH lts elementary analysis is: 2 CH 5 C H S Cl 43-95 1940 21-33 If the operation is carried out without a catalyst the Calculated 43.70 5.47 19.45 21.60

, reaction 18 complete after heating for 30 hours.

. This new product has the following characteristics: The infra-red and NMR spectra are n conformity Boiling point 0 under 025 mm Hg with. the following structure: Refractive index 20 15528 0 Its elementary analysis is:

CH -C CH-CH GI c H s C1 /CH2 Found 52.69 6.54 16.49 14.87 Calculated 52.81 6.36 15.65 17.36

vvvv

EXAMPLE 4 A soil composition containing 2 parts dry sand and 1 part sterilized loam was artificially infested with root knot eelworm, Meloidogyne spp., by admixing the soil composition with finely chopped nematode infected tomato roots. Approximately 50 g of roots per 10 liters of soil were used.

750 cc portions of the infected soil contained in polythene bags were treated with 25 cc of a 5% acetonewater suspension of 2-methyl-6-chloromethyl-1,4- oxathia-Z-ene at concentrations sufficient to produce dosage rates of the compound to soil equivalent to 250 and 125 parts per million active ingredient per volume of soil.

After adding the suspension, soil and compound were thoroughly mixed by kneading the polythene bag which was then placed in a screw cap jar, sealed and incubated for 5 days at 26 C. After incubation, the soil was transferred from the bags to three 3 inch diameter plant pots and a small seedling tomato placed in each pot. The seedlings were grown for two weeks in a controlled environment room (26 C. at 65% to 85% relative humidity in 14 hours oflight at 600 ft. candles). The seedlings were then removed from the pots, their roots washed and assessed for nematode attack, i.e., root knotting. The efficiency of the treatment was based on an index damage where no attack and 4 very severe root damage, i.e., no control.

The results in which the average of 3 plants at each concentration level was taken were:

Dosage Rate Root-Knot "'1 ppm Index Untreated 4.0

. EXAMPLE 5 Example 4 was repeated substituting 2,3-dimethyl-6- chloromethyl-l,4-oxathia-2-ene for the 2-methyl-6- chloromethyll ,4-oxathia-2-ene of Example 4. The suspensions were applied at concentrations sufficient to produce dosage rates of compound-to-soil equivalent to 250, 125 and 62.5 parts per million active ingredient per volume of soil.

The results in which the average of 3 plants at each concentration level was taken were:

2-ene was incorporated into the nutrient medium known as potato dextrose agar in the molten state to produce a concentration of 100 parts per million weight/volume of medium. The mixing was carried out in petri dishes and the cooled culture plates were inoculated with mycelial plugs (6 mm diameter) of the following fungal species: Pythium ultimum and Rhizoctonia solani.

The plates were incubated at 22C. for 7 days after which the mycelial diameters were measured and compared with untreated controls. In every case, the compound was observed to have reduced fungal growth by greater than E XAMPLE 7 Example 6 was repeated except that 2,3-dimethyl-6 -chloromethyl-1,4-oxathia-2-ene was substituted for the 2-methyl-6-chloromethyl-l,4-oxathia-2-ene. After the 7 days incubation, the compound was observed to have reduced fungal growth by greater than 95%.

Results similar to those reported in Examples 4 and 5 can be obtained by using 2,3-dimethyl-6-bromomethyl-l ,4-oxathia-2-ene or 2-chloromethyl-5 ,6,7 ,8- tetrahydro-benz-l,4-oxathiane as the active compound.

Various changes and modifications can be made in products and processes of this invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. The various embodiments set forth herein were presented to further illustrate the invention but were not intended to limit it.

I claim:

1. A method of controlling nematodes which comprises applying thereto an effective nematocidal amount of a halomethyl oxathiene compound of the formula II '-C CH wherein X is chlorine, R is methyl, and R is hydrogen or methyl, or wherein R and R together form a tetramethylene group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2-methyl-6-chloromethyl-l ,4-oxathia-2-ene.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2,3-dimethyl-6-chloromethyl-1,4-oxathia-2-ene.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2-chloromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benz-1,4- oxathiane. 

1. A METHOD OF CONTROLLING NEMATODES WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING THERETO AN EFFECTIVE NEMATOCIDAL AMOUNT OF A HALOMETHYL OXATHIENE COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2-methyl-6-chloromethyl-1,4-oxathia-2-ene.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2,3-dimethyl-6-chloromethyl-1,4-oxathia-2-ene.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is 2-chloromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benz-1,4-oxathiane. 